Some 250 soldiers, with armoured vehicles and helicopters, have set up a base in the capital, Yamoussoukro, though they are still some 100 km away from Bouake, where there are thought to be about 600 French and 300 Americans.

France has agreements with the Ivory Coast to help restore order if necessary, but is keen to avoid having to stage a rescue operation.

Diplomacy

On the diplomatic front, leaders of half a dozen African countries are expected to meet in Morocco on Thursday with the aim of finding a solution to the crisis.

There have been reprisals against migrants

Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo has been invited. A representative of France is expected to attend the meeting, which could include the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal and Togo.

France is trying to get the government of its former colony to open talks with the rebels.

As well as Bouake, the rebels hold another city - Korhogo - and other parts of the north.

The government still say they are preparing to retake it all, beginning with Bouake.

Ouattara

In Abidjan, main opposition leader Alassane Ouattara accused the paramilitary police of trying to kill him in the early hours of the uprising last Thursday.

Ouattara returned from exile in November last year

"It's clear they are using this situation to try to liquidate and eliminate people in my party," he told AP news agency from the French embassy, where he fled.

Mr Ouattara's supporters are mainly Muslim northerners and have often clashed with President Gbagbo's mostly Christian followers from the south.

Mr Ouattara said several members of his party had been arrested in recent days and he had told senior party officials to go into hiding.